Chavis on the outside looking in
Battling with three free-agent signings for roster spot
Michael Chavis wasn’t supposed to be in this position, fighting for a roster spot that’d be almost impossible for him to win.
When the Red Sox called him up on April 19, 2019, to make his big league debut at 23 years old, he wasn’t ready. Or so they thought. Former president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski clearly explained the team’s plan. Standing in the Rays’ dugout while he waited for Chavis’ plane from Rhode Island to arrive, Dombrowski said the prospect’s call-up was only temporary. Eduardo Nunez had just hit the disabled list with a mild back strain and the rookie would soon be sent back to the minors.
But by the time Nunez was ready to return, Chavis had played too well for Dombrowski to stick to the original decision.
Chavis was staying. Two years later, the Red Sox find themselves in an awkward position. Chavis has largely disappointed since destroying the ball in his first 100 big league atbats. He was exposed by the Houston Astros in a single series that has essentially ruined the early portion of his career. And after the Red Sox signed three other free agents who do the same thing he does but arguably better, Chavis has a ticket to Worcester almost certainly waiting for him on the other side of spring training.
“I’m not even sure if I have a place on the team,” Chavis said Wednesday in his first public comments since camp began a few weeks ago. “That’s what I’m trying to earn. I’m not ashamed to say that. I’m not worried about it. I got asked that a lot recently and over the course of the offseason and stuff. People are just curious about what’s going to happen moving forward.
“It’s obviously a little bit of an awkward situation.”
Chavis had barely changed into his Red Sox uniform when Alex Cora called his name to make his big league debut. With the game tied in the ninth inning against a division rival, he was asked to pinch-hit for Sandy Leon. Rays righty Jose Alvarado was throwing one of the most slippery two-seamers in the game, and he threw a great one at the bottom of the zone to welcome Chavis to the bigs.
The rookie whacked it to the outfield wall for a double, moving Andrew Benintendi to third base. Benintendi later scored for the goahead run and Chavis was an instant hero.
Over the next month, he was starting to look like the kind of prospect who doesn’t get sent back to the minor leagues. He went 30-for-106 (.283) with 10 homers and an admirable 15-to-32 walk-tostrikeout ratio.
But when the Astros came to town in mid-May, their veteran pitching staff picked up on something: high fastballs were getting by Chavis. It looked like he was always ready to hit a low fastball, and happy to drive outside fastballs to the opposite field, but the high ones were slipping by.
Gerrit Cole and Hector Rondon struck him out three times on a Friday night. From then on, the book was out.
“I think he faced the best pitchers in the league and they exposed him,” Cora said recently. “He needs to make adjustments.”
Over two seasons and almost 400 at-bats since May 23, 2019, Chavis has gone 89-for-387 (.230) with just 13 homers. The most alarming part is he struck out a whopping 145 times to 24 walks.
This offseason, “I worked on a lot,” Chavis said. “I worked on running, lifting, defense, offense, first base, second, outfield. I worked on hitting elevated fastballs, staying back on sliders, pitch recognition. I worked on my relationships. I worked on my mental health.”
But with minor league options still remaining, Chavis can be (and likely will be) sent to Triple-A Worcester to start the year. Kiké Hernandez, Marwin Gonzalez and Danny Santana are three of the most established utility men in the majors, and the Sox signed all three this winter.
“It’s a big spring for him and he knows it,” Cora said of Chavis.
Chavis still doesn’t have a position to call home. He brought his outfield glove to camp but hasn’t heard a word from Cora or the coaching staff about playing outfield. He’s been at first base and second base, where Bobby Dalbec and Hernandez look like shoe-ins to start. Gonzalez can play both positions, too.
Cora wants Chavis to hit to all fields. He wants him to be more consistent. He wants him to make more contact.
Chavis is trying to do all of that. He also lost 10 pounds and thinks he’s as quick as he’s ever been, all in an effort to please Cora, who proclaimed the Red Sox needed to play faster in 2021 than they did a year ago.
“I worked really hard this offseason,” Chavis said. “I truly did everything I could to prepare for this. I didn’t really do anything enjoyable. I didn’t take a vacation. I worked my (expletive) off from the day I got home to the day I left.
“I proposed to Sarah, so I got engaged, but beyond that …“
Chavis knows the deal. You don’t get too many chances in the big leagues.
As it stands, there doesn’t appear to be another one for him on the horizon.
The most important skill he’ll need to show now is patience.